The purpose of this topic is to chronologically present events of great importance of the Korean War. I will use self-created scenarios to illustrate. Will present one battle each Monday.Author notes and image descriptions will appear in italic.

Historical Background

At the very end of World War II, just before Japan's capitulation, Soviet and US forces occupied the Korean peninsula. This region was part of Japan ever since it was annexed in 1910, 5 years after Japan's show of force against the Russian Empire in the Far East. The locals suffered a lot under Japanese rule, many were forcibly drafted or worked in factories; the Korean language and culture was oppressed, the masters promoted cultural assimilation.

In order to avoid direct confrontation, the US administration proposed to draw a demarcation line at the 38th parallel. The northern part of the country became Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) and was part of the Soviet sphere of influence. The southern part was taken over by the former government-in-exile led by Syngman Rhee and was called Republic of Korea (or ROK). The DPRK assisted Mao's communists in their war against the Nationalists; in return, they were promised help in case of war against the ROK. The southern part, however, faced an internal crisis, a struggle against local communist uprisings. Its only potential ally in case of war, the US, was hesitating: it had more important matters in Europe and Japan. Moreover, it was believed that the conflict would be too dangerous, as the Soviets and the Chinese were close allies of the northern regime.

I. The Invasion Begins

On June 25th, 1950, the North Korean People's Army (or KPA)launched its offensive with 10 divisions with 89,000 men. Major cities, including the South Korean capital soon fell and ROK troops were retreating across the peninsula in disarray. On the same day, the United Nations condemned the Northern aggression and allowed foreign military aid for the South. The US immediately provided sea and air cover for its ally and organized the ground forces under the command of General MacArthur, famous for his battles in the Philippines in World War II. Since then, he commanded US troops stationed in Japan. However, it was far from enough to halt the Northern advance at that point.

Crossing the 38th Parallel

In order to buy time to bring in reinforcements from occupied Japan, the US deployed the first ground units by air to Pusan on June 30th, 1950. They were part of the 24th Infantry Division, but were understrength and underequipped units. Collectively, it was called Task Force Smith, named after its commander, Colonel Smith.

They were ordered to head for Taejon, advance north of the city and establish a blocking point on the main highway. They reached Osan on July 4th and established defensive positions on hills on both sides of the road and waited for the enemy...

In the morning of July 5th, a North Korean armored column advanced on the road towards US positions. The infantrymen were unable to disable them with 2.36-inch bazookas, so the howitzers started firing at point-blank. Some tanks were stopped, but the majority of them advanced south unharmed.

Soon, two KPA Infantry Regiments, the 16th and the 18th arrived in a truck column, headed by 3 tanks.

Troop dispositions at the beginning of the battle

Battle info:
US Player: 5 cards.
KPA Player: 6 cards. He goes first

6 medals to win.

Both hills are Temporary Majority Medal Objectives worth 1 medal for each side.

The KPA intended to launch a pincer maneuver while engaging the enemy in the center. The US left flank soon fell under pressure.

The KPA took many casualties (some three 1-figure units!) and a US squad easily took care of them. However, panic ensued on the right flank when T-34s rushed to the hilltop! Unfortunately for the Task Force, the tanks secured the hill faster than the battered units were eliminated...

The KPA took no prisoners. The wounded were taken care by a medic, but were all shot when the enemy reached the hilltop. The US forces bought some time for the retreating ROK forces...

Next destination: Battle of Taejon under the command of the charismatic General Bill Dean!
Stay tuned...

I'm sorry for the delay, I had to set my priorities straight. Will try to keep a schedule of one update per month.

II. Delaying action

After Task Force Smith was forced to retreat from Osan, the KPA advanced south towards Taejon. Until the battle for the city itself would commence, the US 24th Infantry Division arrived to the frontlines and its 34th Regiment fought a series of delaying actions at Chochiwon, Chonan, Pyongtaek, Hadong and Yechon, gradually retreating towards Taejon.

On July 12 the division's commander, William F. Dean ordered all three regiments of the division to cross the Kum river, blow up all bridges behind them and establish a defensive perimeter along the river. Troop deployment and the terrain suited regimental level combat. However, this defensive line would be shattered in the next few days. The division now fell back to defend the city itself. However, with its strength reduced, each regiment providing about a battalion of battle-ready troops, it was set for an almost certain catastrophe. But the city was to be held in order to let the 1st US Cavalry (without their horses, of course) to deploy south of their positions.

Facing them were two well-equipped KPA divisions, the 3rd and the 4th. The plan originally called for three divisions, one to attack frontally with tanks and demoralize the defenders, while the other two would execute a pincer movement and encircle the city. However, only two could reach the area in time.

After fighting for a day along the Kapchon River and at the airfield, the division has been flanked on its left, thus one escape route has been closed. The next day, the KPA kept the division under heavy pressure and sent armored units towards the city. The column arrived intact and marauded the streets of the city while the division was fighting on the outskirts.

Roy Appleman continues the story:"General Dean led a group, joined later by a 3.5-inch bazooka team from the 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion, in pursuit of a tank. After an hour or more of climbing over walls and fences and dodging through houses stalking it, with enemy snipers firing at them frequently, General Dean and his party brought this tank to bay. About 1400 a group including General Dean, a corporal carrying the bazooka, an ammunition bearer, and two or three riflemen entered a 2-story business building through a back courtyard and climbed to the second story. Looking out from the edge of a window, they saw the tank immediately below them. General Dean has since written that the muzzle of the tank gun was no more than a dozen feet away and he could have spat down its tube. Under General Dean's directions the bazooka team fired into the tank. Captain Clarke has described what followed: "I remained by the corner of the building in front of the tank to use my Molotov cocktail on it if it began to move. The first round [3.5-inch rocket] hit the tank, and the occupants began to scream and moan. The second round quieted most of the screaming and the third made it all quiet. We all then withdrew to a better observation post and observed the tank burning." This was the incident that led to the much-quoted remark attributed to General Dean that day, <<I got me a tank.>>"

My scenario depicts the final engagements fought for the city on July the 25th.

Troop dispositions at the beginning of the battle

Battle info:
US Player: 5 cards
KPA Player: 6 cards He goes first.

5 medals to win.

The KPA Player must own at least one Temporary Objective Medal in order to win.

The Bazooka unit in the center is led by General William F. Dean (heroic leader).

The Soviets started heavily on the left, taking out the Bazooka guys at the intersection. However, the armored column took heavy casualties when General Dean's tank hunters appeared from nowhere and took out the lead tank.

Then, after a series of firefights in the center, the two sides had equal chance of winning. The KPA eventually managed to take an additional kill and roll in the center of the city, forcing the rearguard to fall back and cover the retreat.

Final disposition

Predictably, the town fell under heavy enemy pressure and the division had to retreat towards Yongdong, where the 1st Cavalry had already been deployed. However, the general, while retreating in his jeep, took a wrong turn and got into an enemy ambush. Then his party ascended a mountain where they treated their wounded. The general himself went to get water, but he fell down a steep and became unconscious. After wandering for 36 days in the mountains, he ended up in KPA hands. He was repatriated on 4 September 1953 after the end of the war.

Next destination: the Naktong River line NW of Taegu, part of the Pusan Perimeter.
Stay tuned!